Two For The Show

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly indicated after the third Notre Dame practice, held this Monday during finals week, that both senior Everett Golson and sophomore Malik Zaire will play at quarterback against LSU in the Music City Bowl Dec. 30.

“It’s been great competition. They’ve both benefited greatly from the last three practices and film time,” Kelly said. “Both of them can help us win. I want to play them both because I think both of them have some different traits. We need to find a way to win the game, and I think both of them can help us win.”

Passing is Golson’s forte, although he can extend plays with his mobility and rushed for 277 yards and eight touchdowns. His 144.1 pass efficiency rating ranks 31st nationally — easily the highest in Kelly’s five seasons at Notre Dame — but has been negated by 22 turnovers (14 interceptions and eight lost fumbles by him), although not all have been on him.

Conversely, Zaire’s strength is with the read-option schemes. He did complete 9 of 20 pass attempts for 170 yards while relieving an ineffective and seemingly shaken Golson in the finale at USC, a 49-14 loss. Zaire also ran for 18 yards and a score. The sophomore is intriguing because LSU has had huge problems against the read option in losses to Mississippi State (34-29) and Auburn (41-7).

“LSU should absolutely be worried about the read option based on those early season results, but this is a different defense [now],” Tiger Rag editor Robert Stewart said. “Tackles Christian LaCouture and Davon Godchaux have improved tremendously, and Kendell Beckwith’s insertion into the starting lineup at middle linebacker made a world of difference for this unit, which gave up a combined 1,136 yards to Mississippi State and Auburn.

“The defensive coaching staff made it a priority in practice to work on stopping spread systems, and it really helped improved the play of the tackles, which was by far the defense’s biggest weakness early. This team still has some issues stopping read-option attacks, but it’s not nearly as much of an issue as it was before.

“If Notre Dame is able to run the ball effectively against LSU, that’s going to cause a lot of problems for the Tigers. We’ve seen this year that LSU tends to lose big when they give up a lot of rushing yards.”

Kelly is banking on the different approaches keeping LSU off balance, but also noted he will likely stay with someone who is operating effectively.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever gone into a game with he’s only going to play this amount regardless,” Kelly said. “You try to get a feel for it. There are some things that we clearly know that one quarterback does better than the other. We’ll go to those strengths regardless of the situation.”

Ironically, three years ago at the Champs Sports Bowl in an 18-14 loss to Florida State, Kelly used both Tommy Rees (16-of-27 passing for 163 yards with one TD and two interceptions) and Andrew Hendrix as a change-up (3-of-8 passing for 24 yards with one interception and four carries for 26 yards), but the Irish scored only one touchdown on offense.

Kelly said he would not eliminate the possibility of a two-quarterback system in 2015.

“I’m open really to anything at this point,” he said. “We want to put the best football team, the best offense, that we can put on the field. Ideally, you’d like to have one, but if we’ve got two, then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll see how this plays out, and then evaluate it as we move forward.

“I haven’t ruled out any kind of scenario.”

Injury Report

Most of Notre Dame’s walking wounded on defense from the USC finale is projected to return against LSU.

There are, however, some uncertainties with fifth-year senior cornerback Cody Riggs (stress reaction in foot) and junior lineman Sheldon Day (sprained MCL). Riggs’ injury came against Navy Nov. 1, and he did not play at USC. Day’s injury came against Northwestern Nov. 15, and he was sidelined in the losses to Louisville and USC.

The team’s best defensive lineman, Day would be especially valuable against LSU’s physical attack that prefers to run it 50 to 60 times per game.

“He’s confident that he’s going to be ready, but we’ll make that decision together,” Kelly said of Day. “We’re not near that day where I feel comfortable saying he’s going to be there and he’s ready to go. He wants to be and he says he is, but I’m pumping the brakes a little bit until we get closer to making that decision. He’s clearly not 100 percent.”

The Line On Notre Dame

Two years ago at this time while preparing for the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Notre Dame had maybe seven serviceable offensive linemen.

Sophomores Nick Martin and Conor Hanratty were the top backups at both tackle and guard positions, respectively, while staring right guard Mike Golic Jr. was the next option to Braxston Cave at center. Sophomore reserve center Matt Hegarty had just undergone heart surgery, and prized freshman Ronnie Stanley was recovering from elbow surgery.

Consequently, minimal physical/contact work occurred in practice and it was manifested in the 42-14 loss to Alabama. In this year’s preparations for the Music City Bowl Dec. 30, numbers along the offensive line are the least of Notre Dame’s concerns.

Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand has a full group of three lines — 15 scholarship players — to work with this December. Per head coach Brian Kelly, this is the breakdown of those 15 by position:

“It’s a little bit different in terms of years past,” Kelly said. “We’ve evaluated a ton of defensive personnel. This is more about utilizing some offensive personnel, evaluating a lot of offensive linemen.”

The lone player out of eligibility in 2015 is right tackle Lombard, although a crucial X-factor is whether left tackle Stanley, projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2015 draft, decides to turn pro in the next month after submitting his name into the NFL Draft Advisory for evaluation. At last Friday’s Football Awards Show, Stanley diplomatically stated his only concentration for now is on final exams (which end today) and the bowl game.

Stanley’s departure would leave a huge void at tackle because of minimal experience. Bivin has barely played behind Stanley, Bars was redshirted this season and the rangy 6-8 McGlinchey saw his first appreciable amount of action during the second half of the USC game in place of Lombard. He also has been splitting reps there in preparation for the bowl.

“We like the things that he did against USC and I’d say that’s a very competitive situation right now,” Kelly said of McGlinchey vying for the starting role ahead of Lombard.

Elmer started the year at right tackle (with Lombard at right guard), but never fit in comfortably there after a good season as a freshman right guard in 2013. Guard likely is Elmer’s future, unless an emergency situation arises.

The 325-pound Nelson — the highest-rated Irish recruit from last season with linebacker Nyles Morgan — redshirted this season with his three other freshman offensive line classmates (Bars, Byrne and Mustipher). If Stanley were to turn pro early, then Nelson might be a tackle option in 2014.

“He’s got some versatility,” Kelly said of Nelson. “We like him at guard right now.”

Mykelti Williams Is Commit No. 22

From the same high school as current Irish junior defensive lineman Sheldon Day — Warren Central in Indianapolis — the three-star prospect Williams is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 22 safety. He finished third in Indiana’s Mr. Football voting, and was the Indianapolis Star Dream Team Player of the Year, making 74 tackles and picking off seven passes. Williams also made the game-winning interception in the state championship game as a junior.

He chose Notre Dame over offers from Louisville, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. He also is the fourth in-state commit for the Irish in this class, joining linebackers Josh Barajas and Asmar Bilal and defensive lineman Brandon Tiassum.

“It means a lot to me,” Williams told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong. “I’m going to take pride in getting a great education. I looked at the schools without the football standpoint, where would I be without football, and I felt Notre Dame would be the best place for me.”

The well-balanced 22 Irish commits feature one quarterback, one running back, three wide receivers, three offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, three linebackers, six defensive backs and one kicker.

However, one of the safeties, Dallas’ Prentice McKinney, has scheduled a trip to UCLA next month and there is some reasonable doubt he won’t end up with the Irish. Notre Dame is still seeking to sign another running back and a tight end, among others, for a full complement of 25 players, if possible.

With Williams, the Irish maintain the nation’s No. 11-ranked recruiting class according to 247Sports.

Miscellaneous Notes

Notre Dame is 16-17 (.485 winning percentage) in bowl games, 27th best among teams that have played in at least 20 postseason contests. After the 1993 season, the Irish were 13-6, a .684 percentage that was No. 1 in NCAA history among teams that played in at least 15 bowls. It then lost nine postseason games in a row from 1994-2006 — also an NCAA record.

LSU is 23-21-2 in bowl games, a .522 winning percentage. Under 10th-year head coach Les Miles, the Tigers are 6-3 — but only 2-3 in the last five, including a conquest of Iowa in last year’s Outback Bowl.

The Irish are 0-2 against the Tigers in bowl meetings, losing 27-9 in the 1997 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., and 41-14 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

There are four other teams Notre Dame has played three times in a bowl game: Alabama, Colorado, Texas and Texas A&M. The Irish defeated all at least once.

The ND-LSU series that began in 1970 — the first meeting against an SEC team for the Irish — is tied at 5-5. LSU is attempting to become the third team out of 25 that have played the Irish at least 10 times to have a lead in the series. The others are Michigan (24-17-1) and Nebraska (8-7-1).

With a victory against LSU, head coach Brian Kelly would improve to 3-2 in bowl games at Notre Dame. That would tie him with Ara Parseghian for second-most such wins with the Irish, behind Lou Holtz’s five. However, all three of Parseghian’s wins came against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked teams in at least one poll. Kelly is seeking his first bowl win against a ranked foe (LSU is currently No. 22 in the Associated Press poll).

In Notre Dame’s fourth consecutive loss to close the 2014 regular season, one surprising aspect manifested itself during the 49-14 defeat at USC.

Notre Dame didn’t even show up.

In losses the previous three weeks, the Irish motivation could hardly be questioned even if the execution was missing in too many areas. But not until Thanksgiving weekend did head coach Brian Kelly’s squad seem to concede a lost season.

Now, with 7-5 Notre Dame preparing for a season-concluding Music City Bowl, it’s fair to wonder how much drive the Irish have entering the clash with 8-4 LSU after failing to meet expectations in 2014. During bowl season, wins and losses are usually determined by motivation.

“Everybody is certainly disappointed about the way the season ended,” Kelly said. “But you’ve got to look at each position individually, and there’s going to be a lot of competition. … The tone is pretty clear about what the expectations are. There’s competition at all positions. We’ll be looking forward to that kind of spirited practice opportunity.”

All eyes, of course, will be on the competition at quarterback, with Kelly indicating Dec. 15 that both senior Everett Golson and sophomore Malik Zaire will play against the Tigers’ squad that ranks No. 1 in pass efficiency defense.

“Both of them can help us win,” Kelly said. “I want to play them both because both of them have different traits, and we need to find a way to win the game. Both of them can help us win.”

Zaire’s top quality that Golson can’t match is his ability to execute the read option. At times, that approach has been the LSU defense’s kryptonite. Look no further than the Tigers’ 34-29 loss to Mississippi State and the 41-7 trouncing at the hands of Auburn to see its effectiveness against head coach Les Miles’ squad.

But regardless of the respective strengths Golson and Zaire bring on the field, no trait will be more critical than the leadership to keep the team interested in a bowl game that has little significance.

According to Kelly, Golson has reacted just as his head coach desired after the signal-caller was benched in the second half of the blowout loss at USC.

“We had a conversation about what I wanted from him, and he’s handled it great,” Kelly said. “He’s doing exactly what I’m asking him to do on a day-to-day basis.

“I wasn’t even interested in going down this road unless he was fully committed and engaged in working on the things that I thought he needed to work on, and he’s been all of that. … We’ve got a ways to go, but I like the competition at the position right now.”

Kelly indicated that there would have been no quarterback competition and that the reins would have been handed over to Zaire had Golson not arrived to bowl practices with the right attitude. Surely some of that is coachspeak, but Notre Dame’s fortunes — in the bowl game and 2015 — largely depend on Golson’s attitude on improvement.

The quarterbacks aren’t the only players with something to prove against LSU. The offensive line has one more shot to prove it can put together a physical performance against a very strong defensive front. The front seven — specifically the linebackers — have been run over since senior linebacker Joe Schmidt suffered a season-ending ankle injury Nov. 1. Safety has been a revolving door for Notre Dame, and sophomore Max Redfield can take an important step toward improvement after a difficult November that included a benching and an injury at USC.

What’s more important than a win or a loss is determining that Kelly hasn’t lost this group. At the end of his fifth season at the helm, Kelly doesn’t want a fifth straight loss to end the year. He just needs to make sure the players come out inspired, even with little on the line.

]]>http://bluegoldonline.com/irish-resolve-will-be-tested-in-bowl-game/feed/0Breaking Down The Music City Bowlhttp://bluegoldonline.com/breaking-down-the-music-city-bowl/
http://bluegoldonline.com/breaking-down-the-music-city-bowl/#commentsFri, 19 Dec 2014 18:13:11 +0000http://bluegoldonline.com/?p=5287Sophomore running back Tarean Folston (Photo by Bill Panzica)

Blue & Gold Illustrated Senior Editor Lou Somogyi

Notre Dame MVP: Quarterback Everett Golson

X-Factor: In the midst of Notre Dame’s four-game losing streak and 1-5 finish, capped by the 49-14 obliteration at USC, college football is mocking the Fighting Irish. No sane mind, based on paper, would take head coach Brian Kelly’s team in this situation. It is in times like these Notre Dame often thrives with a “where did that come from?” victory. Two of those times occurred against LSU. In 1984 at No. 6 and SEC champion LSU, the 3-4 Irish were coming off three straight home defeats and were expected to be annihilated in Death Valley. The Irish won 30-22. Same in 1997 when 4-5 Notre Dame visited LSU, which had already defeated No. 1 Florida. The Irish won handily 24-6. When you least expect it and when there is nothing to lose, Notre Dame has a long history of winning in these types of underdog roles.

Analysis: It looks bad on paper that LSU’s strength (running the ball) is Notre Dame’s Achilles’ heel (run defense), while Notre Dame’s strength (passing) happens to be LSU’s forte (No. 1 nationally in pass efficiency defense). If Irish junior defensive tackle Sheldon Day returns to good health, that would be a boost, because we believe the Irish can win against LSU’s one-dimensional attack. An Irish victory would not surprise us, but it is tough to pick a team that has been reeling.

Prediction: LSU 27, Notre Dame 24

Blue & Gold Illustrated Staff Writer Andrew Owens

Notre Dame MVP: Running back Tarean Folston

X-Factor: Notre Dame’s rush defense has been gashed every game since losing senior linebacker Joe Schmidt to an ankle injury in the win over Navy Nov. 1. With four opposing rushing totals of 200-plus yards and the fifth close to that figure as well (188 yards by Arizona State Nov. 8) in November, the Irish defense could not stop opponents by ground in addition to the struggles through the air. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, LSU’s bread and butter is its 29th-ranked ground game (219.5 yards per contest). Freshman Leonard Fournette (891 yards and eight touchdowns) powers the attack, and the question must be asked: Can Notre Dame stop him? With freshman linebackers Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini manning the middle in Schmidt’s absence, much of Notre Dame’s success or lack thereof against the Tigers will be determined by how the Irish fare against the run.

Analysis: As is always the case with bowl games, it’s difficult to predict teams’ motivation heading into these postseason matchups. Notre Dame (7-5) and LSU (8-4) both had greater expectations for the season than the Music City Bowl, so attitude will be a key factor in which team prevails. Expect Notre Dame to come out with an inspired effort after doing the opposite in the regular-season finale at USC. LSU, however, will score late to drop the Irish to 7-6 in a disappointing 2014 campaign.

Prediction: LSU 31, Notre Dame 27

Blue & Gold IllustratedRecruiting Analyst Tom Loy

Notre Dame MVP: Quarterback Everett Golson

X-Factor: Which Golson will Notre Dame get when the Irish take on LSU in Nashville? Will the strong-armed gunslinger look like the confident, comfortable, dual-threat star from the first half of the season? Or will Golson be the uneasy, turnover-prone, reckless quarterback he looked like down the stretch? Both of Notre Dame’s quarterbacks will play against the Tigers, but Golson will likely get the first chance to put the SEC power on its heels. The Tigers defense is aggressive and fast, and it takes chances. If Golson protects the football, there is a chance he could provide an upset and right the ship for the Irish heading in to 2015.

Analysis: While most believe this Notre Dame team has very little shot against LSU, I beg to differ. If there is one team that the Irish can beat, it’s the Tigers. There are a great deal of playmakers on this Notre Dame offense, from wide receivers Will Fuller and Corey Robinson to running back Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant. This offense is dynamic, and just needs to hold on to the football and limit turnovers. If the Irish can win the turnover battle, they can win the game. That said, it’s going to be very difficult for this injury-riddled defense to slow down LSU’s freshman phenom running back Leonard Fournette. This game will be close, but the Tigers pull it out in the end.

“I’m excited. It’s something that’s new for the program as well as us. We’ve never been in this bowl before, so I think it’s going to be a great experience for us. The guys are excited about it.”

— LSU senior running back Terrence Magee on facing Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl

Senior running back Terrence Magee (Photo courtesy LSU)

“We have plenty of talent. That’s been demonstrated throughout the year. If we come out in the right frame of mind, take care of the football and execute on offense, we can be pretty dang good. We’re going to have to be to beat a team like LSU.”

—Notre Dame senior running back Cam McDaniel on how the offense can right the ship in the bowl game

“Getting a chance to play against an SEC conference team is always an exciting experience. You talk about a dominant conference that they play in, it’s going to be a great matchup.”

—Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith on facing LSU

“I know that they have some very talented young running backs. We have to put the game plan together yet, but that’s going to be focus first and foremost: stopping the run. They have a dominant run game.”

—Smith on his first thoughts after hearing Notre Dame would face LSU

“That’s what you want, to play the best. … To be able to play a team with that kind of level of competition will get you fired up.”

—Notre Dame senior left guard Nick Martin on facing LSU

“You get back to fundamentals. You get back to the core of the game, the basics of the game. You get to go against your defense and just hit and play football.”

—Martin on bowl preparation practices

“We wanted to be challenged again. There’s no sense going into this bowl game situation and feeling like you’re not going to be challenged. I feel like there are matchups there that don’t give you the same kind of challenge. This is one that we wanted. They’re a formidable opponent, a very good SEC team.”

—Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly on facing LSU

“We recognize that Notre Dame is a tremendously talented pool of players from across the country. They are a team that has played in the national championship. We are going to have to play well. We will be challenged, and we look forward to playing these guys. It is a very talented team that is well coached and well prepared. It is a great challenge and exciting ending for a quality season.”

— LSU head coach Les Miles on the Irish

“Growing up, I always remember Notre Dame. It was a team you always saw on TV, whether it was ABC or whoever they were playing. They were playing in big-time bowls and playing big-time opponents. Growing up as a kid, it was always something you got to watch and see what they were about. The tradition has always been excellent there.”

“It adds relevance to the game because there are two big-name programs with us and Notre Dame. Growing up, you look at Notre Dame and watching them play since you were little. They’re always a program that is in the national spotlight, so it is a little easier to wake up and work for it, although we would have done the same for any other program. But you get extra excited to play against a great team like Notre Dame.”

— LSU junior offensive lineman Vadal Alexander

“LSU and Notre Dame are instantly recognizable, marquee names that, between them, spent 24 weeks ranked in the AP poll. They also combined to go 2-6 in November, with three of those losses coming by at least 17 points. … So far, LSU is roughly an eight-point favorite, give or take a point, and as long as it’s mathematically possible, [Tigers head coach] Les Miles will be perfectly content to win this one with eight points total.”

—Grantland.com’s Matt Hinton in discussing each bowl matchup and naming the Music City Bowl the ‘Most Marketable Matchup That’s Actually Kind of Terrible’

Ways To Geaux

It wasn’t evident then, but Notre Dame and LSU were headed in completely different directions the last time they met.

That clash, a 41‑14 win by the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl following the 2006 season, is one many Irish fans have tried to forget. It is one of two recent bowl beatdowns at the hands of an SEC opponent, along with the 42‑14 pummeling by Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game at the conclusion of the 2012 campaign.

While LSU went on to capture a national championship the next year, the 2006 Irish squad marked the end of the successful two-year run under head coach Charlie Weis. The Sugar Bowl loss was the final game for veterans such as quarterback Brady Quinn, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija and running back Darius Walker — losses from which Weis’ program would not recover during the ensuing 16‑21 stretch that led to his ouster.

In 2014, neither Notre Dame nor LSU dreamt of reaching the Music City Bowl during the offseason. But respective 7‑5 and 8‑4 regular seasons are the current reality, even if both squads boast talented crops of underclassmen.

For LSU, the young talent is led by freshman running back Leonard Fournette, who was ranked No. 1 in the 2014 recruiting class according to 247Composite (a compilation of all the major recruiting services). Faced with enormous expectations, he rushed for a team-best 891 yards and eight touchdowns.

“It’s been a surprise for me,” said Ross Dellenger, who covers LSU for The Baton Rouge Advocate. “The LSU fan base here expected so much from him that really if Leonard finished below 15 scores, it was a disappointment. That’s how big expectations were, especially with the fans around here.

“I suppose it depends on who you’re talking to whether he exceeded expectations. For me, he did, but for a lot of people around here he probably fell short because he didn’t go to New York for the Heisman Trophy. That’s the expectation level that he entered with.”

Considering the injuries Notre Dame suffered in November and the subsequent sieve-like unit the Irish trotted out down the stretch, it’s hard to find a worse matchup on paper for an Irish squad that allowed an average of 244.2 rushing yards in the five November games.

The X-factor in bowl games, however, is motivation. Whether one team — or both — doesn’t want to be there can many times make up for the on-paper expectations.

“I’d say they’re pretty motivated,” Dellenger said. “Going into the year, this was a season most people thought LSU’s win total would fall between eight and 10. They fell on the low end of that at 8‑4. Going 8‑4 and almost beating the No. 1 team in the nation in taking Alabama to overtime, and winning four of five one-score games. … I think it’s a pretty successful year.

“They haven’t played in Nashville in like five years since they played Vanderbilt there, so it’s a unique place. The opponent has a lot to do with it. Talking to players, they’re excited about playing against a team with a lot of cachet and a name in Notre Dame.”

Head coach Les Miles (Photo courtesy LSU)

The Music City Bowl will conclude LSU head coach Les Miles’ 10th season at the helm of the program. After beginning with a 34‑6 record and a national championship in his first three seasons, Miles has notched four 10-win campaigns in the last seven years. What’s different for Tigers fans, however, is that national title contention has been rare in recent years. LSU has seriously contended for a championship just once since capturing one in 2007.

“It’s kind of that feeling they’ve had that Les’ best years were his first three and the 2011 year,” Dellenger said of the fan base. “Without that 2011 season where they went 13‑0 and lost to Alabama in the national championship game, it would probably be bad around here. Because of that year and even because in 2012 and 2013 they won 10 games, I think there are a lot of fans that give him a pass for not winning a championship now three straight years. What they did in 2011 was pretty good.

“With every passing year, 2011 gets further and further away. I think a lot of fans around here believe the last two or three seasons since then have been a plateau. There’s a contingent of fans that want Les Miles to leave or be fired. There’s no doubt about it. … Others know it’s pretty hard to replace a coach who wins 10 games a year. There’s a mix.”

As is the case every time Michigan has a coaching vacancy — the Wolverines fired Brady Hoke following the regular season and will employ a fourth head coach in nine seasons next year — Miles’ name gets mentioned often. He played offensive line at Michigan in the 1970s and was an assistant there for parts of the 1980s and 1990s.

Dellenger expects Miles to decline the position for the third time if the Wolverines reach out again.

“They’ve flirted with each other a little bit [in the past],” Dellenger said. “I think everybody expects them to make some sort of run at Les Miles. I just don’t expect Les Miles to make a run at them. He’s 61, he’s got two of his four kids still here in junior high and high school. He’s a big family guy. I don’t know if he’d uproot the family.”

An important factor in Miles’ expected decision to stay — the young talent and the bright future.

“He just signed the No. 2 class in the nation last year and that’s the class he’s said multiple times will win the national title,” Dellenger said. “There’s just a lot of different things, I think there’s so many more things for him to stay than there are for him to go. I would be pretty surprised if he goes to Michigan.”

LSU entered the second half in Houston trailing the Badgers by 10 and only made matters worse by allowing Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon to scamper 63 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers responded in strong fashion, rattling off 21 unanswered points largely on the arm of sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings, who finished with two touchdown passes and 239 yards despite completing only 9 of 21 passes.

Sept. 6: No. 12 LSU 56, Sam Houston State 0

All three of Travin Dural’s catches led to scores, and by the third time Jennings connected with the sophomore wide receiver for a score Sam Houston State trailed 27‑0 and hardly stood a chance.

Freshman running back Leonard Fournette added another first-half score, part of his 13 carries for 92 yards. The Tigers defense held the Bearkats to 206 total yards while forcing three turnovers.

Sept. 13: No. 10 LSU 31, Louisiana-Monroe 0

LSU continued its winning ways with a second consecutive shutout, the first back-to-back blankings by a Tigers defense since 1985. Louisiana-Monroe managed a total of 93 yards, with only 16 coming on the ground.

Freshman running back Darrel Williams took seven carries for 37 yards and two scores, complementing Fournette’s 10 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Sept. 20: Mississippi State 34, No. 8 LSU 29

LSU’s unbeaten run came to an end against unranked Mississippi State and relative unknown quarterback Dak Prescott. He led the Bulldogs to 570 total yards, throwing two touchdowns and running in another to stake Mississippi State to a 34‑10 lead.

Freshman quarterback Brandon Harris sparked a late LSU comeback, connecting with freshman wide receiver Malachi Dupre for two scores before falling a possession short. LSU managed 430 total yards, but only 89 came on the ground at an average of 2.5 yards per carry.

Sept. 27: No. 17 LSU 63, New Mexico State 7

LSU returned to winning ways with a statement victory over New Mexico State, riding Fournette’s 122 rushing yards and two scores to an easy win.

Harris maintained his hold on the starting quarterback position with three touchdowns on efficient 11-of-14 passing, while also rushing for two scores.

Oct. 4: No. 5 Auburn 41, No. 15 LSU 7

Auburn put itself into the middle of the national championship discussion with a dominating performance against the Tigers. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall accounted for four total touchdowns.

LSU failed to convert so much as a single third down on 13 attempts, though it did gain 280 total yards.

Oct. 11: LSU 30, Florida 27

Sophomore kicker Colby Delahoussaye nailed a 50-yard field goal with only three seconds remaining to help LSU rebound from the Auburn embarrassment. Delahoussaye’s clutch kick helped LSU avoid its first 0‑3 start in conference play since 1999.

The two offenses matched each other yard for yard, 305 for LSU and 306 for Florida. Fournette continued his impressive freshman season with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, providing the stability to the Tigers offense.

Oct. 18: LSU 41, Kentucky 3

Senior running back Terrence Magee provided the punch Fournette had in previous weeks, racking up 220 all-purpose yards and two fourth-quarter scores to lead LSU over the Wildcats.

McGee’s 14.1 yards per rush were only outdone by his 14.7 yards per reception. The Tigers limited Kentucky to 217 total yards.

Oct. 25: No. 24 LSU 10, No. 3 Ole Miss 7

LSU senior safety Ronald Martin intercepted Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace with a scant two seconds remaining after the Rebels took one last shot at the end zone rather than attempt a 47-yard field goal.

Fournette, Magee and senior running back Kenny Hilliard combined to take 47 carries for 250 yards, though none found the end zone. The winning score came late in the fourth quarter when Jennings hit senior tight end Logan Stokes from three yards out to overcome a 7‑3 deficit.

Nov. 8: No. 5 Alabama 20, No. 16 LSU 13 (OT)

Jennings failed to complete a pass in four overtime attempts after Alabama quarterback Blake Sims threw a six-yard pass on the Tide’s extra-time possession. Sims directed an Alabama drive at the close of regulation, covering 55 yards in 50 seconds to knot the contest at 13.

Jennings’ overtime difficulties reflected his entire game, because he finished with only 76 yards on 8-of-26 passing.

Nov. 15: Arkansas 17, No. 17 LSU 0

For the first time in 17 tries, Arkansas topped a conference foe, and did so in impressive fashion. The Razorbacks held LSU to 123 total yards, including only 36 on the ground.

Jennings’ troubles continued against Arkansas. He threw for only 87 yards on 12-of-22 passing.

Nov. 27: LSU 23, Texas A&M 17

Fournette led the way in righting LSU’s ship coming off two consecutive losses, running for 146 yards and a score on only 19 carries to average 7.7 yards per rush.

His dominance allowed LSU to keep a potent A&M offense off the field, possessing the ball for 41:13.

Rice (7-5)

The Owls earned their 12th bowl bid in school history and will take on Fresno State in the Hawai’i Bowl Dec. 24 at Honolulu … Rice has reached seven wins each of the past three years, and its 24-15 record during that time is the best stretch ever in program annals … The Owls’ three straight bowl appearances is the longest active streak in Conference USA … Redshirt junior defensive end Brian Nordstrom earned first-team All-CUSA honors after racking up 18.5 tackles for loss (which ranks seventh nationally) and 7.5 sacks.

Michigan (5-7)

The Wolverines’ season came to an end with a 42-28 defeat at No. 4 Ohio State Nov. 29 … After failing to qualify for a bowl game for just the third time in the past 40 years, U-M fired head coach Brady Hoke … Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan, who led the team with 112 tackles (14 for loss), was Michigan’s lone representative on the All-Big Ten first team … Junior wide receiver Devin Funchess, who received second-team All-Big Ten accolades, will forgo his final season in Ann Arbor after declaring for early entry to the NFL Draft.

Purdue (3-9)

The Boilermakers’ season concluded with a 23-16 setback at Indiana Nov. 29 … Purdue ended the year on a six-game losing streak and averaged just 15.0 points in its last four games … Junior defensive back Frankie Williams was the only Boilermaker to earn a spot on either of the All-Big Ten squads, receiving second-team recognition from the coaches.

Syracuse (3-9)

The Orange ended its season with a 28-7 loss at Boston College Nov. 29 … Syracuse ranked in the top 30 nationally in total defense (349.2 yards allowed per game) and yards per play (5.0) — but was also 100th or worse in a number of offensive categories, most notably scoring (17.1 points per game), total yards per game (329.3), yards per play (4.9), passing yards per game (184.08), first downs per game (16.8), third-down conversion rate (34.1 percent) and red-zone efficiency (40.0 percent).

Stanford (7-5)

The Cardinal shocked No. 14 UCLA 31-10 in its regular-season finale for its first win versus a ranked foe this year … Stanford earned a bid to play Maryland in the Foster Farms Bowl Dec. 30 at Santa Clara, Calif. … The Cardinal’s 7-5 record is its worst since 2008 — the year before Andrew Luck took over at quarterback — but the school will be making its sixth consecutive bowl appearance … Junior offensive tackle Andrus Peat was awarded the Morris Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding offensive lineman in the Pac-12, and was also named an All-American by the Associated Press (second team) and Sports Illustrated (first team).

North Carolina (6-6)

The Tar Heels finished the regular season with a 35-7 loss to North Carolina State … North Carolina will face Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl Dec. 26 at Detroit, marking its sixth postseason appearances in the last seven years … UNC is one of just five schools in the country to play 11 bowl-eligible teams this season (along with Arkansas, Boise State, Auburn and Georgia Tech) … Redshirt junior quarterback Marquise Williams set single-season school records for total offense (3,607 yards), most touchdowns responsible for (32) and most touchdowns rushing by a quarterback (12) en route to second-team All-ACC accolades.

Florida State (13-0)

The No. 3 Seminoles closed out the season with a 24-19 win over Florida Nov. 29 and a 37-35 triumph over No. 12 Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game Dec. 6 in Charlotte, N.C., to earn a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff … Florida State will battle No. 2 Oregon in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. … It marks the first-ever meeting between the Seminoles and Ducks, and pits the past two Heisman Trophy winners against each other — redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston of FSU and redshirt junior signal-caller Marcus Mariotta of Oregon … The winner will face the victor of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl contest between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Ohio State in the CFP Championship Game Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas … FSU has now won 29 straight games … Senior tight end Nick O’Leary, senior right guard Tre’ Jackson and redshirt sophomore kicker Roberto Aguayo received first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and the Walter Camp Foundation, while junior defensive tackle Eddie Goldman earned first-team accolades from Sports Illustrated.

Navy (7-5)

The Midshipmen topped South Alabama 42-40 Nov. 28 and Army 17-10 Dec. 13 to secure bowl eligibility, marking their 11th postseason appearance in 12 seasons … Navy will face San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl Dec. 23 at San Diego … The Mids are trying to win a bowl game in back-to-back years for just the second time in school history — Navy defeated New Mexico (34-19) in the 2004 Emerald Bowl and beat Colorado State (51-30) in the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl … Junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds now has 62 career rushing touchdowns, which are the most by a quarterback in NCAA history … Head coach Ken Niumatalolo is now the winningest coach in school history with 56 career victories.

Arizona State (9-3)

The No. 15 Sun Devils’ regular season came to an end with a 42-35 loss at No. 10 Arizona Nov. 28 … Arizona State will play Duke in the Sun Bowl Dec. 27 in El Paso, Texas … ASU will be making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance and 28th overall … The Devils will be attempting to notch back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since posting double-digit victories each season from 1970-73 … Redshirt junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong was tabbed first-team All-Pac-12, and has received All-America accolades from ESPN.com (first team), Sports Illustrated (second team), Sporting News (second team) and CBS Sports (second team).

Northwestern (5-7)

The Wildcats fell short of bowl eligibility after losing 47-33 to Illinois Nov. 29 … Northwestern had made five straight bowl appearances before missing out last year and this year … NU’s departing 22-man senior class finished with a record of 33-30 … Senior safety Ibraheim Campbell and junior cornerback Nick VanHoose earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league coaches and media, respectively.

Louisville (9-3)

The No. 21 Cardinals outlasted Kentucky 44-40 in their regular-season finale Nov. 29 … Louisville will square off against No. 13 Georgia in the Belk Bowl Dec. 30 at Charlotte, N.C. … U of L will play in a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season and the 14th time in the past 17 years, and is seeking its third straight 10-win season for the first time in school history … After leading the nation and tying an NCAA record with 14 interceptions, redshirt sophomore safety Gerod Holliman was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner (nation’s top defensive back), a first-team All-American (Associated Press and Walter Camp) and first-team All-ACC.

USC (8-4)

The No. 24 Trojans are slated to face Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl Dec. 27 at San Diego … It will mark the fifth-meeting between the two history-rich schools, with USC holding a 3-0-1 series edge … The Trojans have lost just twice in their last 10 bowl games, and boast a 32-16 all-time mark (.667 winning percentage) … USC has the nation’s fourth-highest bowl winning percentage among the 83 schools that have made at least 10 bowl appearances, its 32 bowl victories are second behind Alabama’s 34 for most in the nation and its 48 bowl appearances are sixth most … Junior Leonard Williams became USC’s first two-time first-team All-American defensive end since Marlin McKeever in 1959-60, when he was tabbed by both ESPN.com and CollegeSportsMadness.com … Williams also was one of five Trojans to earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors, along with redshirt junior tailback Javorius Allen, junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor, junior center Max Turek and sophomore safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens … Freshman wide receiver/cornerback Adoree’ Jackson was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

Physical Fitness

During Notre Dame’s preparations two years ago for the BCS National Championship showdown versus Alabama, the Irish took a cautious approach in the practices leading up to the game.

With approximately only seven healthy players along the offensive line — sophomores Nick Martin and Conor Hanratty were the top backups at both tackle and guard slots — head coach Brian Kelly was averse to doing too much hitting for fear of losing needed performers on both sides of the ball.

The lack of the physical approach, almost no tackling and some rust from 44 days between the regular-season finale and the bowl showed. The deeper and more physical Crimson Tide took control from the outset in their 42‑14 win. Notre Dame uncharacteristically missed numerous tackles and the game essentially was over by halftime when Alabama roared to a 28‑0 lead.

That lesson resonates with Kelly, who will be facing another ultra-physical SEC team in LSU in this year’s Music City Bowl. The Tigers are one of the worst passing teams in the country — 114th out of 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing yards — so they rely heavily on a physical ground attack headlined by 6‑1, 230-pound freshman Leonard Fournette, last year’s No. 1 recruit according to 247Sports.

LSU is ranked 27th nationally in rushing offense with an attack that averages 219.5 yards per game and 4.52 yards per carry. Conversely, Notre Dame yielded 43.4 points and 244.2 yards rushing per contest in its five November games.

There is not much finesse to the LSU offense and overall operation, which took a 13‑10 lead versus current No. 1 Alabama with 55 seconds left in the game before losing in overtime, and also defeated then-No. 3 Ole Miss 10‑7. The Tigers have an identity as a downhill running team on offense and a fierce-hitting, ball-hawking unit on defense, which is third nationally in points allowed per game (16.4).

The Notre Dame offensive line cupboard is much deeper this year with 15 available scholarship bodies, although nine of them are freshmen and sophomores. The Irish defense has been besieged by injuries, but Kelly said there is no alternative to preparing for LSU other than practicing with great physicality. Notre Dame is scheduled to practice eight times before leaving for Christmas break and re-convening in Nashville Dec. 26.

“We’re going to practice physical even if we have to put out guys that are not going to play this year,” Kelly said. “We’re going to bang and play physical because that’s the kind of football we’re going to see. It can’t be flag football here for the next eight practices.

“Even if we’ve got to line up some offensive linemen and put them in defensive lineman roles, we’re going to do whatever is necessary to physically prepare our football team for a very physical football team in LSU.”

Notre Dame demonstrated it can play four quarters of physical football during its 31‑27 loss at No. 2 Florida State Oct. 18, when the Irish defensive roster was relatively intact. How much is left in its reservoir or fuel tank versus LSU two months later will dictate if such a performance can be duplicated.

Quarterback Play

Both teams are entering the game with supposedly an open competition at quarterback.

In the winter of 2012, LSU thought it had landed its quarterback of the future in verbal commit Gunner Kiel, who changed his mind in the 11th hour, enrolled at Notre Dame and is now at Cincinnati. Consequently, this season the Tigers have struggled with the passing game while having had to replace quarterback Zach Mettenberger and wideouts Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., who are all in the NFL.

LSU sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings has completed only 48.8 percent of his passes for a pedestrian 1,460 yards. True freshman Brandon Harris received the starting nod at Auburn Oct. 4, but was 3-of-14 passing for 58 yards in the 41‑7 loss. The Tigers have not reached 200 yards passing seven straight games.

Reports are that Jennings and Harris are splitting first-team snaps 50‑50 in practice.

“If they have designs on being a leader on this team and being that quarterback, this will be a very competitive time even before the game,” LSU head coach Les Miles said of his QB competition.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly also said this December would feature open competition between 23-game starter and senior Everett Golson with sophomore Malik Zaire, who saw his first extensive collegiate action in the USC debacle Nov. 29.

Ironically, Kelly’s best success at Notre Dame came when not too much was placed on the quarterback — a 4‑0 finish in 2010 with freshman Tommy Rees, and the 12‑1 season in 2012 with sophomore Golson and Rees in relief. Possibly, that’s the direction the Irish might need to go versus LSU.

“We may have to move over one lane and maybe not be in that speed lane and maybe slow it down just a little bit and tighten some things up,” Kelly said of the approach to offense versus LSU.

Sophomore linebacker Kendell Beckwith (Photo courtesy LSU)

Future Prelude?

When 8‑4 Notre Dame met 8‑4 Florida State in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, popular belief held that it would be a prelude to a BCS National Championship encounter in a year or two because both teams were replete with top sophomore and freshman talent.

Indeed, a 12‑0 Notre Dame team played in the BCS National Championship Game the following season, while Florida State won it all in 2013 and made the four-team College Football Playoff this season.

The 2014 Music City Bowl has a similar theme with 8‑4 LSU and 7‑5 Notre Dame, whose strengths are in their underclassmen. After losing a school-record nine players to the NFL Draft each of the past two seasons, many of them underclassmen, the Tigers have only a handful of senior starters this season. Meanwhile, the Irish have had only two on offense (tight end Ben Koyack and tackle Christian Lombard) and one on defense (cornerback Cody Riggs) who are out of eligibility in 2015.

“We think we’re going to be a really good football team,” head coach Brian Kelly said with an eye on the future. “… This game in particular allows us to continue to not paint a false picture of who we are, but where we need to get better as we look towards 2015.”

LSU Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense

Despite losing 1,400-yard rusher Jeremy Hill, LSU’s strength this season has remained its rushing game. Led by freshman running back Leonard Fournette, the Tigers averaged 219.5 yards per game during the regular season to rank 29th in the country. Fournette may gain only 74.2 yards per game, but he is one of three LSU ball carriers to average more than five yards per carry, led by senior Terrence Magee’s 5.2. Fournette nearly doubled his average against both Florida and Texas A&M, leading the Tigers to victories in each game with 140 and 146 yards, respectively. His eight touchdowns also led LSU.

The Tigers offensive line returned 75 starts, losing only second-team All-SEC right guard Trai Turner. Only senior left tackle La’el Collins and sophomore right tackle Jerald Hawkins have started all 12 games, but the line has remained intact the majority of the season.

Notre Dame has successfully held some rushing attacks in check this season, such as limiting Stanford to 47 yards and Florida State to 50. Those successes disappeared into thin air when senior linebacker Joe Schmidt fractured and dislocated his ankle against Navy on Nov. 1. Since then, the Irish have given up an average of 221.3 rushing yards in four games.

Without Schmidt, even more of a burden lies on the shoulders of sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith, who led Notre Dame with 103 tackles in the regular season.

Advantage: LSU

Sophomore wide receiver Travin Dural (Photo courtesy LSU)

LSU Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense

Zach Mettenberger led LSU with 3,082 passing yards a year ago, but his departure to the NFL left the offense in the hands of Anthony Jennings. The sophomore struggled to 1,460 passing yards in the regular season on 104-of-213 passing, only a 48.8 percent completion rate. During some of Jennings’ struggles, freshman Brandon Harris stepped in admirably, throwing five touchdown passes against Mississippi State and New Mexico State in two September contests.

Sophomore wide receiver Travin Dural softened the pain of losing two 1,000-yard receivers currently dazzling the NFL in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Dural caught 37 passes for 758 yards (20.5 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns, leading the Tigers in all those categories. No other LSU receiver managed more than 17 grabs or 317 yards, but freshman wideout Malachi Dupre did haul in five touchdown catches.

Notre Dame may have a full secondary in Nashville. Head coach Brian Kelly believes fifth-year senior cornerback Cody Riggs will be in action after battling a stress reaction in his foot through the latter half of the season. The Irish, however, will likely be without fifth-year senior safety Austin Collinsworth after he underwent shoulder surgery Dec. 12.

Jennings and Harris combined to throw nine interceptions this season, which will certainly grab Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Cole Luke’s attention. Luke picked off quarterbacks four times this season.

Advantage: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Running Game Vs. LSU Run Defense

Sophomore running back Tarean Folston led the Irish with 816 yards on 154 carries, and found the end zone five times. Folston finished the season in strong fashion, breaking 100 yards four times in a five-game stretch beginning with 120 yards at Florida State and concluding with 134 yards against Louisville. Behind Folston, sophomore running back Greg Bryant and senior running back Cam McDaniel, Notre Dame averaged 150.8 rushing yards per game, highlighted by four 200-yard efforts.

Senior quarterback Everett Golson added 277 yards and eight scores on the ground, though he also lost eight fumbles.

LSU finished the season 38th in the nation in rush defense, surrendering an average of 143.5 yards per game. Strong rushing attacks — such as Wisconsin (268 yards) and Mississippi State (302) — found success against the Tigers, but lesser foes struggled mightily. LSU finished the season by holding Arkansas to 95 rushing yards and Texas A&M to 84.

Junior linebacker Kwon Alexander (Photo courtesy LSU)

The Tigers lost both their starting defensive tackles to the NFL, but did return five of their top eight defensive linemen this season, as well as an experienced linebacker corps that is led by junior Kwon Alexander’s 79 tackles (7.5 for loss) and sophomore Kendall Beckwith’s 68 stops (6.5 for loss).

Advantage: Even

Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. LSU Pass Defense

Golson started all 12 games this season, but did not finish the contest against USC. He threw for 3,355 yards on 60.1-percent passing, finding receivers for 29 scores. Golson also threw 14 interceptions in the season’s final nine games, repeatedly putting Notre Dame behind the proverbial eight ball.

Once the Irish were already in a 35‑0 hole against the Trojans, sophomore Malik Zaire began taking snaps and completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards while also running for a touchdown.

LSU boasts the nation’s top pass efficiency defense (98.7 rating), while giving up only 162.3 passing yards per game. Nine opponents failed to gain 200 yards through the air against the Tigers, including the last two and six of the last seven. Nine times LSU intercepted opposing quarterbacks, including a climatic game-winning pick by senior safety Ronald Martin against then-No. 3 Ole Miss Oct. 25.

Advantage: LSU

Special Teams

LSU lost dangerous kick returner Odell Beckham Jr. from last season, and struggled to replace him with Fournette. The Tigers averaged 23.9 yards per kick return, and led by sophomore Tre’Davious White they averaged 10.8 yards per punt return. Sophomore Colby Delahoussaye successfully converted 11 of 15 field goal attempts.

Notre Dame’s kick and punt return struggles persisted this season, despite flashes from Riggs on punts and Bryant on kicks. Senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza struggled to recover from holder difficulties late in the season, contributing to him converting only 13 of 23 field goals.

Advantage: Even

Coaching

In his 10th season at LSU, Les Miles has maintained the success in Baton Rouge begun by Nick Saban. Boasting one national championship and another title game appearance, Miles has reached a level of success few coaches in the country have — Brian Kelly included.

Kelly has been a rumored candidate for multiple coaching vacancies this season, but Notre Dame’s current four-game losing streak likely eliminates him from any serious consideration.

Advantage: LSU

Intangibles

This season did not go the way either name-brand program intended. Even into October, both clung to national title aspirations.

LSU’s fall has not been as staunch as Notre Dame’s, but both will need to find motivation from within in the Music City Bowl.

Three weeks ago, Notre Dame fans’ top concern was with the College Football Playoff rankings and the perceived slight leveled against the Irish with their No. 10 positioning.

Doesn’t that seem like a long time ago?

Since then, Notre Dame has lost three games in a row and enters the regular-season finale at 7-4, marking the seventh time in eight years that the program has lost at least four games during the regular season.

Now, the Irish travel to the Los Angeles Coliseum for a final test of their motivation and focus, which — despite the November slide — have remained largely intact to date. It will mark just the second two-year stretch in series history that both teams are unranked, with 2010-11 serving as the first.

“Obviously it’s USC and it’s a rivalry game for us,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “It’s a huge rivalry game. Great tradition in the matchup, but we just need to find a win. Finishing the season with a victory is all we’re really focused on; again, great rivalry, great tradition, great history.

“In a sense, I think this week is even more about just finding a way to get a win for these guys. They’ve played with such great effort. I feel for these guys. They gave everything they had. They’ve got three losses now by a total of 10 points, so really the focus is just trying to find a way to get a win.”

Winning is becoming increasingly difficult considering the attrition Notre Dame has faced in recent weeks. The Irish enter the regular-season finale with only 70 healthy scholarship players, and that includes freshmen that are redshirting and others like fifth-year seniors Austin Collinsworth (shoulder) and Cody Riggs (foot) who fall into the category because they are still playing, but can hardly be considered “healthy.”

“We’ve got a lot of inexperienced guys that are trying to get the job done the best they can,” Kelly said.

The 2014 season will be remembered as one that could have been with a thrilling 6-0 start and near victory at Florida State that ultimately turned into settling for a minor bowl, whether it will be Belk, Music City, Sun or other.

“We’re 10 points from [having] three more wins, right? Florida State we lose [at the end of the game], and then we miss a field goal here [versus Louisville] to go to overtime,” Kelly said. “Very easily, this team could be in a totally different position … that’s college football, you know? They’re very close. We needed to make a play here or there, a kick here or there, and it’s a totally different look on it.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that the effort that these kids have given has been outstanding, with the loss of five players and a ton of freshmen having to play. I’m proud of what they are doing for me, and that is playing with great effort.”

A program in year five can’t merely hang its hat on effort. Big-time college football demands results, and now there will be even more pressure in 2015 — especially with most of the team returning — to produce.

That pressure will be felt months from now, with the current focus on simply avoiding a four-game losing streak to end the regular season.

“Oh, they’re excited to play USC, but they just want to win a football game,” Kelly said. “If it was Alabama A&T, they’d be excited just with the opportunity to get a win. What’s really important to them is finishing with the win, and it’s sweeter because it’s USC too.”

Four years ago Notre Dame stumbled into the Coliseum with a 6-5 record and pulled out an inspired 20-16 victory. In 2012, the trip west carried as much significance as possible with a trip to the BCS National Championship Game on the line. Both times the Trojans were without their starting quarterback due to injuries.

Now, it’s Notre Dame who is ravaged by injuries, and a win is the only cure after losing out on what could have been.